My cycling friends and I often play a game called, “If you could have just one bike? When played in a crowd in which nearly everyone rides and races mountain, cyclocross, and road events, it can lead to some spirited debates—and shows us just how hard it is to make a case for just one perfect bike.

While training for, and racing, this year’s Dirty Kanza 200, I had the chance to test a special edition of Specialized’s new Gravel CruX on a variety of terrain, and came to realize that it’s one of the most dexterous bikes I’ve tested. While I wouldn’t take it on the steady stream of rocks we call singletrack here in Pennsylvania, it would be my choice for nearly any other kind of riding I do, even tamer trails.

My maiden voyage on the S-Works Gravel CruX was the 130-mile Rapha North East Gentlemen's Race in Lambertville, NJ, an event that combines paved and dirt roads. For the mixed-media course, I stripped off the prototype 38c file tread Trigger tires and ran 28c road tires. This CruX uses the same frame as the version raced on the World Cup ‘cross circuit, and it even with a bottom bracket that’s higher than most road bikes, and the steering geometry slightly more stable, it was right at home tucked in a tight paceline whirring down the open roads at 27 mph. Though it didn’t dive through corners like a bike made for road racing, it held its line and climbed like it was full of helium—the featherweight S-Works carbon frame and stiff, quick rolling Roval RapideCL 40 disc wheels both help with climbing velocity.

Unlike the bike’s ‘cross-racing brethren, this CruX comes with a COBL GOBL-R carbon seatpost. It may have an unfortunate name and odd appearance, but the carbon leaf spring design and Zertz inserts effectively mute road chatter, which I appreciated on the gravel sectors of that race.

The next big outing was a 5-hour, 70-mile ride that mixed rugged trails with double track, bike paths, abandoned rail beds, paved roads, and even a goat path. With the bigger tires re-mounted, I felt confident when we hit a three-mile stretch of newly laid, fist-sized gravel that felt like deep, loose cobblestones. Even then, I was still (relatively) comfortably pedaling a straight line, and the ride showed me that the CruX was up for anything Kansas could toss its way.

In Kansas this dream bike really soared: Four-time winner Dan Hughes, who helped to design this prototype version, and Rebecca Rusch each won their respective divisions on a bike identical to my test model (which I piloted to third place). The SRAM Red 11-speed group, with a compact 50/34 chainring combo, and 11-28 cassette worked flawlessly, and provided the ideal gearing for rolling terrain. In gusts, the 40mm-deep rims did catch some wind, but the bike’s overall stability helped me to control it. SRAM’s RED hydraulic disc brakes take your speed control to a new level, with a progressive feel that’s finely tuned to narrow tires. I could finesse speed in every condition I encountered without any hand fatigue, even towards the end of my 14-hour day in the saddle.

Although it was comfortable enough for a day as long as Dirty Kanza, it’s not a comfort bike; instead it’s comparable to the pavement-bound Tarmac, a no-nonsense race machine. The COBL GOBL-R seatpost and big tires add enough damping for speed-oriented riders. The oversized front triangle is stiff, helping to make the steering precise, so that you don’t accidentally end up in a ditch. The stays are also stiff, aiding the bike’s climbing efficiency.

Currently, this dream Dan Hughes special edition Gravel Crux is just that, a dream. Specialized built only a handful for Dirty Kanza, and has no immediate plans to sell them. In the meantime, you can purchase a similar model, which is identical in geometry, (but uses Specialized “Pro” grade carbon, instead of the lighter S-Works material), mixes lower-end SRAM components with the company’s hydraulic disc levers and calipers, and the essential, if poorly named, COBL GOBL-R post. Best of all, that gravel-tuned race bike can be yours for a relatively affordable price of $3,000. Look for a review in our October issue.